Monthly Archives: March 2021

dog-allergies

Allergy Free Canine Allergies

Allergy-Free Canine Care, Is There Such A Thing?

When you stop to think about it, a reaction to something is probably the only way a creature can truly have allergy symptoms. No other species on the planet has allergies, so how is it possible that dogs can have allergies as well?

Dogs commonly get allergies, like humans, due to things they inhale, like pollen from trees or grass, or things they eat like mold or wrappers. Since dogs live longer than humans, if there is an early cause of the allergy, it is possible they are first introducing it to something they’ve been exposed to and itching the gut for a few days as a result.

Just like with humans, dogs with allergies may have side effects, like sneezing, itchy eyes, constipation, and diarrhea. These can be so aggravating that your dog will want to avoid you at all costs. Your dog may exhibit less excitability or even a change in temperament.

If you think your dog may have allergies, you should have your veterinarian do a blood check to make sure your dog has no allergies. Your veterinarian may even be able to determine the cause, as he/she will be looking for a rash, sores, licking of front paws, etc. Knowing the cause of the allergy is a big step in treating it.

Canine allergies may also be the result of seasonal allergies, or your dog may have allergies specifically. Dogs that have seasonal allergies will usually be affected by pollen, grasses, and such. Your dog will be itching, biting, and scratching a lot, so watch for how he/she reacts when the pollen clock is kicking in. If you think your dog may be suffering from seasonal allergies, keep an eye on his/her behavior.

Canine allergies can also be the result of additives and preservatives that can be in many of the dog foods that you buy. These additives and preservatives are often making dogs with allergies to corn or wheat, and they may be making your dog itchy and irritated.

There are some home remedies that can help you relieve that itching, but you will still want your veterinarian to check for allergies and other possible problems in order to ensure that your home remedy will truly alleviate the situation.

Your veterinarian should run allergy tests on your dog, so that he/she can determine the allergen, and determine what specific dog foods the dog is allergic to. You then just feed your dog hypoallergenic dog food, and the dog should be scratching less in the future because there is no added preservative or additives.

There are many ways that people have tried to improve their allergic dogs, and you can also look for simple cures yourself. A good diet, and adding fatty acids like Omega 3 and Omega 6 to your dog’s diet can help a lot.

If your dog has started to scratch for no apparent reason, and you can find nothing available for his/her cone eyes, it would be a good idea to let your vet check for allergies. That is because sometimes something as simple as changing their food can cause an allergic reaction, and the scratching will help them relieve the itching.

Cats, too, get allergies, and they can suffer from the same as for dogs. Like dogs, some cats will only have a few episodes, while others will have chronic skin problems. Learn the symptoms, like how they shake their head, smell of smoke, or discharge from their eyes.

Like dogs, some cats will only have a few problems with pollen, while others will suffer from it for the rest of their lives. If your dog has problems with grass or pollen, change their food to a hypoallergenic brand, and at least while they are pregnant, reduce the pollen amount that comes in contact with them.

The simple solution is to remove the contact with the allergen, but unfortunately, that is not such a simple solution. If you do remove the allergen from your pet’s environment, it doesn’t mean that it will go away.

The exposure to the allergen continues as long as it is actually present. Anybody with allergies can tell you that it doesn’t take a year for a reaction to start, so keeping it in the environment for that long is recommended.

A simple allergy rub can sometimes help relieve the scratching and itching of your pet. Be careful, though. Give your dog the rubbing on a wet washcloth, and make sure you rub it against the stomach, and on the sides of the dog, you make sure it’s down all the way to the skin. Doing this will help remove the waterproof oil in the carpet and the skin cells responsible for repelling allergens.

Your veterinarian can prescribe topical creams and medicated shampoos that can stop the itch and reduce scratching.

puppy-train

How to Get the Most Out of Your Puppy

Crate training is one of the most commonly used house training techniques for both puppies and older dogs. Although the intention of providing a “den” for your dog is for both safety and comfort, some dog owners saw crate training as the cruel and appropriate punishment.

In my opinion, behavior modification – the idea of treating a dog in a way that makes him satisfying to the owner without decreasing her desire to perform in the encounter – is not a process that should be considered as a cruel means to train a dog, but rather as a way to strengthen the connection in a mutually satisfying way.

Basic instincts drive many dogs to want to be near their families; even more desirable is to have a dog close by when the owner is at home, even when in the hospital.

A man also domesticated dogs over the course of tens of thousands of years, but our love for dogs hasn’t degenerated to the point that we are now willing to abuse our dogs to maintain the connection with them.

The essence of human companionship is a powerful passion that awakens our devotion to other beings, and we are willing to do our best to make certain that the Bond is never frayed.

A common scenario occurs when owners acquire a puppy that is then left unattended in the home. This is not the ideal situation, for all. Separation anxiety, a common problem in puppies, is particularly acute in establishments that keep dogs in confined spaces unless owners are available to periodically allow the dogs a few moments of air and exercise.

In two studies of normally socialized dogs taken at separate times, one bounced that dogs that were rarely left alone developed feelings of anxiety if screeners ever entered the room. The studies by either the Animal Behavior Lunch Research Center or the Guiding Eyes Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club showed a correlation between signs of separation anxiety and owners’ allergies.

Considered the most reliable of all indicators to diagnose separation anxiety is a pattern of continual vocalization (or self-mutilation) in the absence of the owner. This pattern, although somewhat obvious in adult dogs, may not be so easily identifiable in young puppies.

Some owners may feel overly sympathetic when their dog begins vocalizing minutes before they are scheduled to leave, but this doesn’tconstitute an act of affection. Dogs expressing their discomfort have conveyed a message that the owner is responsible for their reacted behavior, and will lens they are responsible for the reaction if they are left alone. Which is precisely what the owner doesn’t want.

Puppies develop a very dramatic and melodious alarm system for the day they are left alone. It usually progresses from snarling and growling to full-bodied panic as the dog’s body flees from window to window.

The rescue of dogs whereby owners are temporarily incapacitated by illness or external troubles necessitates arranging for pet care, which can compelling consideration, especially in a family situation. If the dog has to be taken to a vet briefly, owners may be advised to use anti-anxiety medication.

The use of crates in this context is rather problematic since the general contention is that placing a dog in a crate is inhumane, and that caged animals suffer excessive confinement. The counter-arguments are that, when used properly, crates are neither cruel nor inhumane, and that they discipline the dog for bad behavior. In fact, the dog may enjoy having a room of its own, a parallel universe where it can expend energy and scenarios which cannot be allowed in the home. In the grand scheme of things, it may be said that creating a personal safe space for a dog may be more effective than caging it.

Responsible owners of young puppies dispense with the unpleasant feelings by training the animals to relax.

Effective relaxation programs for dogs begin with the owner’s preparing the dog to be alone. In the course of several private sessions with the dog, the dog is taught to spend quiet time alone. This is reinforced by a period of productive isolation ( consisting of periods of time in which the dog is alone or isolated with its person) and then joined by a period of increased contact and then extended to full isolation when the person is again alone. By this process, the dog develops a pattern in which it spends an hour alone at a time.

The next step in this process is to add to the dog’s isolation the presence of a morning or evening walk. The dog is given toys to occupy its time and so forth until finally it is given time to itself and to pass most of the time without interaction with anybody. This makes possible a relaxed and stress-free dog. It may also be necessary to add to the dog’s isolation an element of choice and adventure – daily outings to places where interesting things happen.